The changeover between seasons is always an interesting time with some programmes about to close and others about to get under way.
The times when the European apple industry watched their southern hemisphere counterparts like a hawk seem to be a thing of the past. The first southern hemisphere Gala now rubs shoulders with the last English Cox which seems to have held up remarkably well.
Meanwhile, Cameo appears to be basking in the limelight. In Tesco this week the apple appeared from France - not in itself surprising - although the fruit was carrying an extra sticker (mainly over the variety name) proclaiming it to be “the flavour of the season”.
On the subject of labels, I remember when the public developed a taste for big bulky tomatoes, which along the way have come to be described as beefsteak or slicing tomatoes.
Anyone with such a long memory will tell you that the variety held up as an example in those early days was the French Marmande. However, when I visited the region in the 1970s, one grower - oblivious to the interest in the UK - told me they were no longer grown.
It seems however that Waitrose has put this right although the variety was signalled as coming from Italy at £4.69kg. Actually it was quite hard to find on the shelves which are now stocked virtually exclusively with UK-grown product.
At the other end of the scale, remember the first stew packs of carrots, onions and swede jumbled up in a bag?
How things have changed. Usually the packs are made to make two portions but the range and concept has broadened. Sainsbury’s has come up with an attractive vegetable selection at £2.69 for 800g which makes a full meal and includes broccoli and cauliflower florets.
In the same store, I was interested to read some customer advice on how to eat uglifruit - quite a good idea as many consumers confuse it with grapefruit. The guidance is that the fruit is easy to peel and should be treated like a satsuma, and for the newly initiated: a special two for £2 offer.
Nearby, tomatoes are carrying a Flavour Ripe sub- brand, on six-packs. This covers a range of varieties which this week included UK Ferrari grown by Eric Wall in Sussex, and Kyller from Spain, although the grower remains anonymous.
And last, courgettes. Anyone with an allotment will confirm the product starts small and becomes the size of a marrow. In the past, the retail trade seemed to go for nothing more than something the size of small fountain pen.
But Sainsbury’s has broken the mould with an attractive three pack at £1.99 which combines both yellow and green types. The difference is they are not only as straight as a ruler, but the diameter is much more sizeable and around eight inches long.
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